Stalking Tiger Avatar MTG Card
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Vanguard |
| Released | 2003-01-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Magic Online Avatars |
| Set code | PMOA |
| Number | 7 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Vanguard |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | UDON |
Key Takeaways
- Boosts card advantage with potential additional draws from combat damage to players.
- Enables faster, powerful spellcasting through possible mana acceleration.
- Offers game adaptability with instant speed cards and abilities protections.
Text of card
Whenever you cast a creature spell, you may pay . If you do, draw a card.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Stalking Tiger Avatar helps you stay ahead in the game by potentially drawing you an extra card whenever it deals combat damage to a player. This constant replenishment of resources can be overwhelming for your opponents as you build up card superiority.
Resource Acceleration: As a high-impact creature, the Stalking Tiger Avatar can quickly turn the tide by enhancing your board presence and potentially providing mana acceleration if paired with the right enchantments or equipment. This can lead to more powerful spells being cast earlier than usual, setting the pace of the match in your favor.
Instant Speed: Though typically a creature card doesn’t have instant speed, the mechanics around the Stalking Tiger Avatar allow you to use other cards or abilities at instant speed to protect it or disrupt your opponent during their turn. This gives you the flexibility to react and adapt to the state of the game, making your strategy more resilient.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Players must discard a card to activate certain abilities of the Stalking Tiger Avatar, which could deplete your hand and leave you at a strategic disadvantage, especially if your deck lacks card draw mechanics.
Specific Mana Cost: Featuring a mana cost that includes both green and another specific color, this avatar demands a dedicated color combination in your deck, potentially restricting its inclusion to certain archetypes and reducing its overall flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: As the avatar’s abilities are unlocked at higher mana values, this can impact your early game momentum. Other creatures or spells with lower mana requirements might provide similar or better board presence, making the Stalking Tiger Avatar a less efficient choice in fast-paced games.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Stalking Tiger Avatar is a flexible card that can easily adapt to various playstyles. With its ability to stage unexpected defenses, it can become a staple in decks that thrive on both offense and surprise tactics.
Combo Potential: This Avatar holds potential for creating powerful synergies, particularly in decks that capitalize on creature-based strategies. It can work with cards that reward you for having creatures with specific traits, amplifying your board presence.
Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-heavy strategies often cycle through the meta, including a card like Stalking Tiger Avatar can give players a competitive edge. Its characteristics can clash well against popular decks that might not expect such a formidable foe.
How to beat
Dismantling the prowess of the Stalking Tiger Avatar in MTG is no easy feat, and its design demands a strategic response. This powerful card can dominate the playfield with its resilience and strength, making it crucial for players to plan effective countermeasures. However, seasoned players know that every powerful card has its Achilles’ heel.
To neutralize the Stalking Tiger Avatar, it’s beneficial to leverage spells or abilities that bypass its defenses. Utilizing control spells that exile or force a sacrifice can circumvent the Avatar’s robustness. Cards like Path to Exile and Liliana’s Triumph gain an edge since they don’t rely on dealing damage or targeting, bypassing conventional protection. Board sweepers, like Supreme Verdict or Damnation, also prove instrumental, clearing the board of all creatures, regardless of their individual might. Ensnaring creatures in enchantments that neutralize abilities or prevent them from attacking or blocking, such as Pacifism, form another line of strategy.
Ultimately, overcoming the Stalking Tiger Avatar requires a mindful approach – one that involves understanding vulnerabilities and countering with precision. By employing the right mix of removal, control, and board management techniques, you’ll tip the scales in your favor against this formidable foe.
Cards like Stalking Tiger Avatar
The Stalking Tiger Avatar brings a unique twist to creature cards in MTG. It shares its stealth abilities with cards like Prowling Serpopard, which also can’t be countered and grants that ability to other creatures. However, Stalking Tiger Avatar raises the stakes with its camouflage – it becomes unblockable as long as your opponent controls a green permanent.
Comparatively, Thrun, the Last Troll is another card that is both uncounterable and difficult for opponents to deal with due to hexproof. Yet, unlike the Stalking Tiger Avatar, Thrun lacks the unblockability based on opponent’s permanents, but compensates with regeneration. Whisperwood Elemental presents a different approach, offering protection from board wipes and manifest mechanic benefits.
Choosing between these cards depends on gameplay style. Players looking to bypass defenses straightforwardly may prefer the situational unblockability of Stalking Tiger Avatar. On the other hand, those valuing resilience might lean towards Thrun’s regenerate ability. While strategy differences set them apart, each card provides a reliable way to give opponents a challenging board presence to contend with.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stalking Tiger Avatar MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Avatars, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Stalking Tiger Avatar and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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